Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that builds the capacity of low and moderate income communities to acheive and sustain economic self-sufficiency with a particular focus on Native Hawaiians.

Hawaii Community Lending (HCL) is the mortgage arm of HCA and Hawaii's first non-profit mortgage broker.

In the third quarter of our fiscal year Hawaiian Community Assets celebrated many exciting "firsts"! We delivered our first youth financial education workshop and completed our first tax season as a designated Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site.

Our mortgage arm, Hawaii Community Lending, closed its first HUD 184A loan and our first borrower in the Kanehili development project moved into their new home.

In these challenging times, we are grateful for all we have to celebrate and are happy to share our exciting milestones with you.

We are also preparing for our 3rd annual housing luncheon, Unlocking Dreams - Housing a Nation to be held on August 24th from 12pm-1:30pm at the Hawaii Convention Center. For more information on how to attend or sponsor the event visit our website at www.hawaiiancommunity.net/events.html.

We hope to see you there!

Unlocking Dreams in Kanehili

Last December, the Lau's (pictured above) selected their house and lot. Today they celebrate homeownership!

The Lau's were the first family assisted by Hawaii Community Lending to move into their new home in Kanehili, a Hawaiian home lands project developed by Gentry Kapolei Development, LLC. Hawaii Community Lending is one of designated lenders on the project.

"The ultimate reward for my work is sharing in a family's excitement of walking through their home for the first time," explains Winona Kauhane, Hawaii Community Lending. Winona assisted the Lau's in securing the mortgage loan to purchase their new home.

The Lau family has been preparing to purchase their home for the past two years. They were lessees in the DHHL's Undivided Interest Awards program, designed to provide families with an opportunity to financially qualify for a mortgage loan while the subdivision is being planned and developed.

According to HCA Executive Director, Michelle Kauhane, "Participating in this project is as fulfilling for HCA and HCL as it is for the lessees. We have a vested interest in their success because we walk them down the path to homeownership holding their hand the entire way."

Through the Home Ownership Assistance Program, lessees work to improve their credit, save for down payment and closing costs, and prepare for the responsibilities associated with purchasing a home. Hawaiian Community Assets is the primary provider of the HOAP serving over a thousand families per year with homebuyer education and individualized financial counseling.

Hawaii Community Lending will assist approximately 58 families with mortgage loans in the first phase of the Kanehili development. HCL is offering FHA, USDA and HUD 184 A loans to families in the Kanehili project.

Hawaii Community Lending closed its first HUD 184A loan in May for Valerie and Brian Manoa (pictured below with Winona Kauhane - middle). The Manoa Ohana worked with loan officer, Winona Kauhane of Hawaii Community Lending to purchase their home on Hawaiian Home Lands in Nanakuli.

"Our first weekend in our new home: hot showers, cooking in our kitchen, eating with paper plates, plastic cups and forks, getting our utilities turned on, and watching the early morning trash pick up through my front window. I know these are all small and simple, but it's already affected our lives. Thank you!," says Valerie Manoa, proud new homeowner.

For the Manoa Ohana, their home purchase signifies more than a new residence. Moving to Nanakuli will offer Valerie Manoa the opportunity to reconnect with her former Nanakuli Elementary School students. Today, these students are in high school. "I can see that our new home will also bless my former students and their families. From my new home, I have the opportunity to meet with them and encourage a path towards a productive future that includes graduating from high school", said Valerie Manoa.

The Manoa's home purchase will make a positive difference not only for their family but for the surrounding community.

The Section 184A Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Program is a financing option available for Native Hawaiian families to construct, purchase and rehabilitate homes located on Hawaiian home lands.

Hawaii Community Lending is the lending arm of nonprofit, Hawaiian Community Assets. Net revenues support free homebuyer education and financial literacy programs throughout Hawaii.

HCA Vita Sites Bring Cash to Local Families

The end of tax season in mid April marked the end of the Tell Your Ohana Campaign, a collaborative effort between the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA), Aloha United Way (AUW), Bank of Hawaii, the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The campaign provided free tax preparation for workers and working families at one of the many Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the state.

HCA would like to acknowledge employee, Kelly Lincoln (pictured right), Community Services Specialist in Hilo for her commitment to the campaign as an active volunteer tax preparer. Kelly assisted in preparing 30 returns and was one of two volunteers who offered free tax services to eligible families from HCA's Hilo office.

As a partner in the collaborative effort, HCA set up sites at it's neighbor island offices on Maui, Kauai, and Hilo. "We have staff and offices set in homestead communities across the state. When approached about the Tell Your Ohana Campaign, we felt that the partnership with CNHA would be a natural fit!" said Michelle Kauhane, HCA Executive Director. "The Campaign provided a free service to many families we work with. It also brought much needed awareness to communities about tax credits and how annual refunds can impact homeownership and finances during these tough economic times."

With five sites statewide, the Campaign featured ten IRS certified volunteers who collectively prepared over 140 tax returns. On average, workers and working families assisted by the campaign received $1,794 in tax refunds, with the overall campaign netting $252,979 in tax refunds across the state. Certified and non-certified volunteers collaborated to assist over 450 individuals by setting up appointments, answering questions or providing referrals to other locations across the state.

Free Foreclosure Assistance: Call Us - We Can Help

Do you know someone who recently lost their job?

Are their monthly mortgage payments rising?

Want to help them keep their home?

Call Us - We Can Help.

HCA offers free foreclosure and home retention counseling, providing the following services:

- budgeting to restructure debt and existing obligations

- loan modifications

- communication with mortgage lenders and servicers on the homeowner's behalf

- assistance to Hawaiian Home Land beneficiaries with unique trust issues

For more information, Call Us - We Can Help! Call toll-free 1.866.824.0448.

Youth Corner

Financial Education Reaches Hawaii Teens

In 2008 HCA worked with local communities to develop Kahua Waiwai, Opio Edition, a financial education handbook for the specific needs of Hawaii teenagers.

With books in hand, HCA set out in the first half of 2009 to bring Kahua Waiwai, Opio Edition to the same communities responsible for guiding the handbook's vision, content, and illustrations. HCA would like to highlight the following program successes made possible by the hard work of local community leaders, service providers, teachers, parents, and most importantly, youth.

In 2009, HCA:

* held 3 train-the-trainer sessions statewide.

* prepared 40 trainers to implement and deliver financial

education programs in their own communities using Kahua

Waiwai, Opio Edition.

* built a collaborative of 27 community-based organizations

(shown right) dedicated to promoting youth financial education

in their own neighborhoods.

* launched a Statewide Youth Financial Education Initiative

with its organization partners, resulting in the teaching of 368

Hawaii teens through free financial education workshops using

Kahua Waiwai, Opio Edition.

* secured partnerships with Hawaii First Federal Credit Union

(Waimea, Big Island) and Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union

(Oahu and Maui) to increase access to banking opportunities

for teens taking part in workshops utilizing Kahua Waiwai, Opio

Edition.

Hear about Kahua Waiwai, Opio Edition from community members like you...

"The words I hear people talk about are starting to make sense; I

think my brother needs this (financial education training) too. I

didn't know about all the money (taxes) that comes out of your

paycheck. I learned a lot, especially about wise decision making

and how it affects more than just me." ~ Kim, Panaewa Hawaiian Homestead youth, Age 16

For more information about Kahua Waiwai, Opio Edition, upcoming train-the-trainer sessions, or to sign up for workshops being offered in your own community, contact HCA Programs Coordinator, Jeff Gilbreath at 808.587.7653 or via e-mail at jeff@hclending.com.